Melbourne Mayor abruptly calls off her wedding after receiving information about her fiancé

A Melbourne mayor has revealed she called off her wedding to her boyfriend of eight months after receiving information about him from a stranger.

Sarah Carter is the mayor of Maribyrnong City Council in Melbourne's inner-west.

The politician announced her engagement to Aaron Lipson, an advertising director, over the weekend.

"On Saturday, the most amazing man I've ever chanced upon got down on one knee and proposed," she wrote on Facebook.

"I, of course, rushed to say 'yes' and just like that we're engaged to be married. I'm the luckiest gal in all the world and can't wait to be your wife Aaron Lipson - love you to the moon and back."

Ms Carter received hundreds of messages of congratulations at her incredible news.

However, just 24 hours later, she returned to Facebook and announced the wedding was off.

She added: "Thank you to the woman for telling me, best to know now. I'm obviously terribly embarrassed."

When approached for comment by the Herald Sun, Ms Carter said: "It's too soon and too raw.

"I've gone through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows in a very short space in time and am just trying to get through it with family and friends."

Mr Lipson was also approached for comment and he said: "This is a private matter we're working through and don't want to comment."

Sarah Carter was elected to council in 2008 and became mayor in 2011. On her Facebook page she describes herself as: "Mayor of Maribyrnong City Council and Councillor representing River Ward since 2008. A progressive and proud #westie passionate about community and #melbswest."